Rich tributes paid to Arambam Samarendra
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 10 2011:
Presentation of patriotic songs, staging of plays and offering of floral tributes marked the 11th Arambam Samarendra Martyrdom observance held widely in the State today.
at Khurai Nandeibam Leikai, where the noted pioneering figure was slain on this day 10 years back, various artistes sang and staged a play penned by Samarendra.
Speaking to newspersons on the sideline of the observance, Prof Arambam Lokendra said the death anniversary is being held for the past many years at the same place where Samarendra breathed his last with the cooperation of his (Samarendra) associates.
informing that this year's observance based on culture, is being held at 21 different locations, including at Moreh and Cachar district of Assam, Lokendra reminded that among other events Mukna, the traditional wrestling style of the Manipuris was organised at the previous year's observance.
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Taking part at a memorial lecture session organised in connection with the Martyrdom observance at JN Manipur Dance Academy veteran journalist and North East proponent MS Prabhakara differentiated between sovereignty and separatist movement, insisting that the latter is self-destructive.
Prabhakara, who stays at Guwahati as a news correspondent of The Hindu daily and Frontline magazine also presented a detailed account of his experiences in the North Eastern region during his lecture on 'Sovereignty Struggles in NE India: Where are they going ?' Summing up his familiarity with the region, he said 'I feel like home in the North East India'.
The senior scribe also spoke at length on the impact of prolonged imposition of AFsPA 1958 on the general populace of the region.
The observance held under the aegis of Arambam Somarendra Trust culminated with a group discussion on the same topic where the discussants included Irom Gambhir, K Sanatomba, shreema Ningombam and Grace Jajo, besides Prabhakara.
On the otherhand, Pari Imom Kanba Lup, Imphal East organised a painting competition to marked the martyrdom anniversary at Lainingthou Puthiba Shanglen, Pangei Road wherein over 140 children took part.
Symposium, young talent search competition, mukna contest, recitation of patriotic themes, kang tournament, etc were the other highlight of the anniversary observance held at various other places of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Chandel and Thoubal districts as well as in some pockets of Assam.